Teens charged in attack on school

WESLEY CHAPEL (AP) -- A group of teens, some of them honor students, are facing vandalism charges after a weekend rampage through an elementary school left more than $100,000 in damages.

The 10 boys, ages 13 to 15, are facing felony charges of burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief after their Tuesday arrest. At Sand Pine Elementary School, workers were still trying to repair the damages, which included smashed computers and vending machines, toppled book cases and foam from fire extinguishers sprayed everywhere.

"To say why they did this is anybody's guess,'' said Pasco Sheriff Lee Cannon.

Susan Rine, assistant administrator for Pasco elementary schools, said the teens told her they were "just bored and having fun.''

None of the boys had criminal records and one had a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Rine said some of the boys were surprised they weren't going to be allowed to go to school Tuesday, asking if they could make up missed school work so their grades wouldn't suffer.

Deputies said the first attack came on Saturday morning, when windows in the cafeteria were knocked out and vending machines in the teacher's lounge were smashed. The teen-agers returned Sunday night, authorities said, to cause more damage.

Pasco County Sheriff's detectives said the boys became suspects after one teen's mother noticed her son acting strangely after news reports of the vandalism. She called authorities and her son cooperated with detectives.

Pasco School Superintendent John Long said he will recommend that all be expelled. They were released to their parents after briefly being held at the Pasco County Juvenile Detention Center.